HIJACKED

Rachael, for the best part, was in a decent enough mood not to glare at everyone in both grief and fury. She had hated being left behind and grown even angrier when she had heard of the attack, but over the past few days the anger had drained. Now she was as bubbly and energetic as usual. "Come on guys, we should all do something together!" she exclaimed in the afternoon, almost jumping on the spot with excitement that she wanted to burn. "Rachael…go to bed or something," Darcy groaned as he stretched out on the couch, his eyes closed as though he were trying to sleep. "I can't go to bed! I need to burn this energy off, and I want us all to do something together as well!" Rachael said, her voice high with excitement, and Luke groaned. "Who on earth let her get to the sugar?" he grumbled as he sat up and stretched before looking down at Darcy, who looked close to falling asleep.

Luke looked around at the others, who also looked exhausted, shrugged and stood, "Well, you heard the woman." Rachael beamed at Luke, and then she began hurriedly talking as Jacob and Nicola entered the room, both looking tired as well. "Ah, just in time!" Rachael called out to them as they stepped in, "We were just about to do maybe some dancing or workouts. Darcy, join in as well! You too Chloe!" The entire Family stood, even Darcy, but all of them looked tired and barely able to put one foot in front of the other as they stood in one messy line. While Rachael discussed what to do, Jacob connected his phone to the speaker, scrolled through several songs, and then selected one. The music blared, and the ticking start began. It took everyone only moments to recognise it. Nutbush City Limits by Ike and Tina Turner.

"Really?" asked Sienna, a smile on her face, and Jacob shrugged. "You guys wanted to work out or dance. I choose both. Do the dance." They all chuckled, and the dance began. Right foot: out to the right, bring it in, out again and then bring it in. Left foot: out to the left, bring it in, out again and then bring it in. Right foot: out behind, bring it in, out behind and then bring it in. Left foot: out behind, bring it in, out behind and then bring it up. Right knee: up, bring it in, up and then bring it in. Left knee: up, bring it in, up and then bring it in. Right foot: kick to the left and bring it in. Left foot: kick to the right and bring it in. Jump, cross feet together and turn to the right. Repeat. They were all messy the first few turns, but then it sank in. Now, their movements snapped together sharply yet smoothly, their feet and knees moving exactly in time with one another. It was now perfect.

Jump, cross feet together and turn to the right. They went again. Feet moving to the side, then back, then knees up, then kicks, then jump, cross feet together and turn to the right. This movement repeated over and over again. They were sweating, but it wasn't bothering any of them. They were too busy having fun. Jump, cross feet together and turn to the right. Vivian chuckled as they went along, but then her phone buzzed loudly. Immediately, she pulled it from her pocket and answered a call. Taking notice, Jacob paused the music, and the dancing stopped. Vivian stepped out the room, talking hurriedly and worriedly on her phone as the others watched in concern. Minutes passed in anxious silence, and then Vivian nodded, hung up the call and turned back to them. "Vironica's condition has stabled, but they want to keep her in for a couple more days," she said slowly, and the others sighed with relief.

Vironica had been in hospital for the past few days after the knife was stabbed into her shoulder, but thankfully no permanent damage was caused. Chloe sat down and wiped her forehead, then looking around the room at the rest of them. "So, what's our plan?" she asked, and Darcy shrugged, he too looking out of breath. "I thought we were waiting for Andrew to get back to us," he muttered, and Rachael turned to him, a surprised expression on her face. "Who is Andrew?" The others glanced at one another hesitantly, unsure of how to answer until Mikayla cleared her throat, and they all turned to her. "I remember them telling me who Andrew is," she said, ignoring the startled stares from the others as she locked eyes with Rachael. "Andrew claims to know you personally. Says he knows all of us because you've told him everything about us and being your Family."

Rachael's eyes narrowed as she stared at each of them in turn. "I don't know who on earth you're talking about." Mikayla sighed, took a glance at the others before taking a deep breath and saying, "He said you were his daughter." Slowly, Rachael's facial features changed from one of confusion to one of shock. "My father…he's here?" she murmured, and as one, the Family nodded. "He protected us during the attack. Had our backs. In the past you two may have had a…rough relationship. But trust me, he's changed," Darcy said. For a moment, all was quiet. No one spoke. Then, the TV flicked on. They turned to find Vivian flicking through the channels, an anxious expression on her face as she finally found the right channel. The news channel. "The search for this madman has widened considerably after another child's body was found mutilated in a bathtub sink.

"Evidence suggests that the serial killer is the one responsible, and authorities are urging for calm as they rush to find him." The news reporter was saying, her eyes looking somewhat mixed with anxiety and terror as she spoke. The others watched, not bothering to tell Vivian to stop as then the screen flickered and went dark. Vivian fumbled with the remote as the channel went to static, but then it reappeared. However, the man who had been sitting next to the woman was no longer sitting upright. He lay facedown on the table, blood spilling along its surface as the woman trembled. A knife was gently pressed against her throat. Behind her, his silhouette visible in the darkness of the background, as the unmistakable shape of the killer. A chuckle rose from the silhouette, and then he stepped into the light, leaning over the woman's shoulder and tightening the grip on the knife's hilt.

"So excited for my first outing. What a lovely studio!" the man murmured, his voice slightly disorientated through the gasmask but raspy and almost chaotic. "Hey, Oscar, what's the weather like today?" the man asked as he turned to the dead man on his left, and then he laughed, a sickening sound that sent chills through the Family's spines. "Oh, how could I forget, he was just showing me how…impure his blood is," the killer stated as he turned back to the camera, his eyes dark and cold, almost staring into their souls. "Now…while we're here, let's just take a moment to relax…otherwise you will find my knife might just twitch." The man spoke the last word with a snarl, and the hand holding the knife pressed harder, a bead of blood forming against the sharp edge and slowly dripping down the woman's throat. The woman sobbed but did not move.

The killer cackled loudly as he stared at something off-screen, his eyes still dark and almost emotionless. He sighed and looked back to the camera. "Police officers, am I right? Don't know when to stop…or when to start more like. Look at them! Trembling because they're not allowed to shoot. And who said there was no point to a hostage?" The Family glanced around at one another, surprised and afraid. This serial killer was the most hunted man in Australia. How had he managed to hijack a news studio and take a hostage? They refocused upon the screen as the chaos unfolded. "No, no, no. Don't disconnect the channel, otherwise my knife won't stop the next time it twitches," the serial killer was snarling before once again turning his attention back to the camera. "Now then…where was I? Ah, yes, that's right. I have arranged this little meeting for one reason.

"All of the police and anyone who thinks they can stop me. You can't. It's that simple. Stop trying, resisting, and attempting to find me, because deep down you all know it is hopeless. I am always going to be one step ahead of you, every time you breath about me or so much as think about me, remember that I am the one man who has evaded capture and murdered your children. Remember I am the man who dares defy this government and it's shit. And remember that I will haunt your nightmares, I will walk in them, talk in them, and while you dream of me, I will be hacking your bodies apart. From the moment you fall asleep to the moment you wake; I will be in your head. If you come after me…first your friends die. Then your families. Then you.

"Stay out of my way, or else the streets will turn to bone and rivers run with…BLOOD!" The man screeched the last word, his voice rattled with insanity, and then he slashed his knife. The woman dropped, her head smashing against the large wooden desk as her throat tore. Silence. Then, a shout came from somewhere off-screen. "Fire!" The serial killer reached into his pocket, withdrew something cylinder-like, popped the pin off the top and threw it at the ground. Gunfire shrieked as smoke billowed from the device, and by the time it cleared, the killer was gone, nothing other than two dead bodies to indicate he had been there in the first place. The channel went to static, and slowly the Family turned to one another. Tension was high in the air as they all wore terrified looks. There came a knock, making all of them jump.

The knock came again in the direction of the front door, and they all turned to it. Bang, bang, bang. The knock came louder, and Jacob hurried out of sight to the front door. The others followed him, being careful as they watched Jacob approach the front door, unlock it and quickly swing it open. In the doorway was Livia. She stared at them all, her eyes narrowed, and then she spotted Rachael. Her expression changed to one of happiness, although only Rachael noticed that her eyes stayed narrowed and deadly. "Is it alright if I speak to Rachael out here for a moment? We have so much to catch up on! It will only take a couple minutes!" Livia said happily, and Rachael nervously walked towards her and shut the door behind. The others stood in the doorway, waiting for something to happen.

One minutes, then five, then ten, then twenty. The others moved off to different parts of the mansion, except for Jacob. He stayed rooted by the door, ready to let Rachael in. This is taking far too long, Jacob thought as he waited another five minutes. Slowly, he reached for the doorhandle, and then swung the door open. He found Rachael and Livia kissing, although he noted the surprised and somewhat scared expression in Rachael's eyes as the two broke apart. "I'll catch you later," Livia said with a wink before turning and walking down the front steps. Rachael stayed in her place for a few more moments, as though trying to register what had just happened, before brushing past Jacob and disappearing inside. Jacob called after her, but either Rachael didn't hear him, or was flat out ignoring him as she disappeared.

***

Night. Jacob found it best when everyone was asleep. He had checked the time before heading downstairs to the kitchen. Two in the morning. He reached for the beer minifridge, which was stored directly over the fridge, but to his surprise found it unlocked. Slowly, he opened the door. He made sure to count how many were left before he faked going to bed. Six were missing, and he knew none of the others drank after five. It was like a house rule. Jacob turned, thinking and rubbing his fingers to his temples, then he spotted the trail. Small droplets of yellow-like liquid were leading away from the kitchen and up the stairs. How did I miss this? Jacob thought as he slowly followed the trail upstairs. It circled around the next flight of stairs, then the next. Finally, it went up the next flight and to a door at the top, which was hanging open slightly.

Jacob hesitated. His first thought was a burglar, but why would they only steal bear and leave a trail? He heard a gentle sniffling sound, and once again approached the door. He let it slowly creak open and stepped out into the cold air. It was the roof. His eyes adjusted to the darkness for several seconds, but he found the silhouette of someone sitting nearby. Six bottles and an Esky sat next to them, and they reached into the Esky to retrieve another glass bottle. Jacob didn't even have to see their face. He knew exactly who they were. "Rachael?" he asked quietly, and the figure turned. It was indeed Rachael, her hair now matted and her eyes watering. She was well on her way to being drunk. Instead of demanding Rachael go to bed or hand over the drinks, Jacob quietly walked over and sat down next to her.

Rachael stared at him, but said nothing, her pale face stained with tears and her eyes red. "Come on, pass us one," Jacob said softly, and Rachael gently passed him a bottle. Beer. He took a swig, coughed at the bitter taste, shrugged and kept drinking. Rachael did the same, although it seemed she was used to the stuff. "So, want to tell me why you're enjoying the company of alcohol alone?" Jacob asked as he and Rachael sat shoulder-to-shoulder, and Rachael slowly turned to him. "I was enjoying the company of being alone, actually, but I guess it's ok you're here," she said, her voice breaking slightly as she spoke, and Jacob nodded. "Well, want to tell me why you're drinking at least?" Rachael took a deep, shaky breath, her voice rough from probably hours of crying, and she rubbed her eyes.

"Earlier…when Livia took me outside…she wasn't here to kiss me or, or to catch up. She was here to threaten me. She's given me bruises along my ribs and stomach before now when I haven't done what she wanted. She was saying she was going to make my life hell if I didn't…. if I didn't convince you all to stop looking for the killer. You opened the door, and she just kissed me as a diversion. I can't tell the others…not without them reporting the problem to the police. I feel like you're the only one who won't." Slowly, Jacob nodded again, lapsing into silence as he thought. Rachael seemed to be waiting for him, and he noticed. "Let me see them," he murmured softly, and Rachael hesitated, knowing exactly what he meant. Slowly, she leant back and lifted her white shirt slightly.

Right along her ribcage and along her belly were purple and yellow marks, some in the form of handprints and others more rounded, which he guessed came from a shoe. "Rachael…this is bad," Jacob whispered as she covered the bruises again with her shirt, and she shrugged. "It's just one of the perks of life," she muttered, although Jacob wasn't sure if she was being serious or not. "Look, you only have to see her one more time…and we both know what you have to do during that encounter." Rachael turned to Jacob, eyes sparkling a little with tears, and then she slowly got to her feet. Jacob went to follow, but a quick glare from Rachael kept him still. Slowly, Rachael moved to retrieve a small rectangular box and softly opened it. Jacob couldn't see what it was until Rachael turned around to face him, the sorrow never leaving her face as she nestled the violin gently against her shoulder.

She walked over to the very edge of the roof, being careful not to slip off the edge as the raised the bow and smoothly lay it across the four strings. Jacob stared up at her, waiting for something to happen. Nothing did. For many moments, Rachael stood there, staring out at the nearby city, the lights twinkling madly as she slowly sighed. "You can do it," whispered Jacob, and that seemed to give Rachael the burst of encouragement she needed, because she raised the bow higher onto the strings, and slowly let it fall as she flicked her fingers onto the four different musical melodies. Jacob had heard legend and myth of musicians letting people see what they could see through music. He had always dismissed it. Music was music after all. Now, though, he was witnessing it. He could see the great Brisbane River channelling through the city, he could see the skyscrapers that punctured the air and clouds.

Then, as Rachael's movements became gentler and more delicate, his vision changed. Now, he was viewing something much, much different. He could see Livia and her abusive ways; he could see Rachael cowering away from her girlfriend's destructive might. He could see Rachael's fear, Livia's hate and above all, he could see himself, being there for her. He was not sure if it was specifically him, but he was sure it was no stranger either. Rachael's movements became faster as the violin struck its high notes, and Jacob could see Rachael ending things with Livia. The weight in her heart would be lifted. The depression and sorrow, gone. She would be happier. A better person, in a better place, without Livia here to ruin it. That is how I help her. I help her break up with Livia, Jacob realised. Very slowly, Rachael took the violin from her shoulder, knelt down by the box and locked it away again.

"Who gave you it?" Jacob asked quietly, gazing at Rachael as she sat back down beside him. Rachael took a deep breath, as though fighting over her emotions and forcing them to remain hidden before slowly turning to him and whispering. "My father…before he left."